Don Was (far left) with his band Was (Not Was)
Native Oak Parker and Grammy winning music producer Don Was, who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Bonnie Raitt, and was co-founder of the band Was (Not Was), has been named to the board of directors of the Detroit Institute of Music Education (DIME), the Detroit Free Press reports.
Was, aka Don Fagenson, will join board members, founders Kevin Nixon and Sarah Clayman, along with Charlie Rothstein, senior managing director of venture capital firm Beringea, Brian McCollum of the Freep reported.
Was has served as president of the Blue Note Records jazz label since 2012 and stages the annual Detroit All-Star Revue as part of the Concert of Colors, the Freep reports.
"Detroit artists have made a mind-boggling contribution to the world's musical culture," Was said in a statement. "DIME is a world-class facility that will play a big role in attracting musicians from all over the country and developing the next generation of musicians right here in Detroit. I'm thrilled to contribute in any way I can to this exciting new effort in our city."